Amman, June 8 (Petra) – Prime Minister Jafar Hassan directed ministries and government departments to begin preparing their 2027 budgets, enabling the government to submit the draft budget within the constitutional deadline for parliamentary approval before the end of 2026.

During Monday’s Cabinet session, Hassan called for prioritising strategic capital projects and ensuring continued government funding for key sectors, particularly water, transport and energy.

The Prime Minister called for maintaining investment in health, education and digital transformation as part of efforts to implement the Economic Modernisation Vision and advance the public-sector modernisation programme.

He directed a monthly salary increase of JD30 for public servants and military employees and retirees whose monthly income is below JD600. He instructed that the necessary financial allocations be included in the 2027 budget to cover the cost of the increase.

Hassan instructed the Minister of Finance to develop a clear plan to reduce the operational expenditures of ministries, government agencies and independent public institutions by 15 per cent during 2027.

Emphasising the importance of protecting vulnerable groups, the Prime Minister called for special attention to the social safety net to help low-income Jordanians cope with economic pressures stemming from regional developments and their impact on the national economy.

He also called for continuing to allocate sufficient resources to maintain subsidies for wheat, animal feed and household gas cylinders, as well as support for the National Aid Fund (NAF).

The allocations exceed JD500 million annually and are in addition to funding provided for the university student support fund.

//Petra// AK